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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

I’m female, in my 30s and deaf. Despite an active life, I have been single for years

‘I rarely meet other singles, and when i do, they make it very clear they aren’t interested’ (posed by a model).
‘I rarely meet other singles, and when I do, they make it very clear they aren’t interested’ (posed by a model). Photograph: James F Dean/Getty Images

I’ve been single for 13 years. I’m female, in my 30s and deaf. Despite living a very active life, working, travelling, playing sports and volunteering, I rarely meet other singles and when I do, they make it very clear they aren’t interested. After my friends started having their first babies, I decided I needed to relocate. Despite now living in a big city and having new friends from different backgrounds, including some with disabilities, I haven’t had a single date. People keep asking me if I have a partner, and it physically hurts. I feel like an elderly dog at the shelter that nobody wants.

• When leaving a message on this page, please be sensitive to the fact that you are responding to a real person in the grip of a real-life dilemma, who wrote to Private Lives asking for help, and may well view your comments here. Please consider especially how your words or the tone of your message could be perceived by someone in this situation, and be aware that comments that appear to be disruptive or disrespectful to the individual concerned will be removed.

• If you would like fellow readers to respond to a dilemma of yours, send us an outline of the situation of about 150 words. For advice from Pamela Stephenson Connolly on sexual matters, send us a brief description of your concerns.

• All correspondence should reach us by Wednesday morning. Email: private.lives@theguardian.com (please don’t send attachments).

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